South China man faces drug, speeding charges

STRONG — A South China man was arrested Thursday after a deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding and reported finding marijuana.

Deputy Brian McCormick conducted a traffic stop on Farmington Road, also known as Route 4, after a vehicle was clocked going 79 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Derek Farnsworth Photo courtesy of the Franklin County Detention Center

As a result of the stop, Derek Farnsworth, 20, of South China was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of trafficking in a Scheduled Z drugs – marijuana, according to a statement by Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr.

He was issued a summons on a felony charge of trafficking in Scheduled X drugs – hash oil, after he arrived at the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington, Nichols said..

He was also issued summonses for possession of a usable amount of marijuana by a minor and speeding 79 mph in a posted 55 mph zone, Nichols wrote.

Farnsworth is accused of having scales, baggies, cash and the amount was over the allowed 2½ ounces. He cannot possess it because he is younger than 21, Nichols said.

Farnsworth was taken to the jail and was released on $1,000 cash bail later in the day. He is scheduled to appear in a Farmington court on June 26.

Under the new statute, people 21 or older may possess as much as 2½ ounces of marijuana, Lt. David Rackliffe said.

A conviction on a felony trafficking charge is up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine while a misdemeanor charge of trafficking is a maximum 364 days in prison and a $2,000 fine.

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